Surnames and Family Research Forum

I am a historian working with the Pinson Historical Society and researching the life of Andrew Jackson Beard. I work closely with Steven Baird, who is one of Robert Baird's descendants.

Andy was born into slavery on the Baird plantation in Pinson in c. 1849. Although illiterate, he was mechanically inclined and eventually became the first African-American millionaire in Jefferson County, AL. He later suffered a number of financial hardships and died in the Jefferson County Alms House in 1921 and is buried in an unmarked grave.

Although Andy was reported to have been born to slaves of the Baird and Tatum families, there is some assertion that he was, in fact, either the biological son or grandson of one of the Baird men. He was known to have been light-skinned and was recorded in the 1910 US Census as "mulatto".

I wanted to inquire if you might have any information that you would like to share or if you happen to know of any other Baird family members that might have information.